Dna Quote by Linus Pauling
“[Professor Pauling] confesses that he had harboured the feeling that sooner or later he would be the one to get the DNA structure; and although he was pleased with the double-helix, he 'rather wished the idea had been his'.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Scientific Reflections, 1965
Scientists may feel personal ownership over discoveries, but collaborative effort and timing shape credit.
In simple terms: Feelings of ownership can conflict with collaborative science.
Recognize collaborative nature of breakthroughs.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- research labs
- academic publishing
- patent disputes
- team projects
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance personal ambition with collaborative credit?
- What mechanisms ensure fair recognition in science?
Personal ambition can hinder open sharing of ideas.